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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">March 11, 2013</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>SEP
21 - COLOSSIANS 1:1-2:5 - PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST: WORTHY OF SUFFERING</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
1:1-2 (NNT) PAUL: HIS GREETING OF GRACE AND PEACE. <font size="3">“Paul,
apostle of Christ Jesus through God’s will, and Timothy the
brother, </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">2 </font><font size="3">to
the saints a</font><font size="3">t</font><font size="3"> Colossae and
faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Grace and
peace: these are Your gifts unto us Father, that by walking in them
we manifest Your Kingdom. Then we can pray in open manifestation.
</span><b><i>Hallowed be your :name!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>2.
1:3-4 (1:3-8) PAUL: BASIS FOR THANKSGIVING. <font size="3">“We
thank :God </font><font size="3"><i>the</i></font><font size="3"> Father
of our :Lord Jesus Christ always praying for you, </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">4
</font><font size="3">having heard of your :faith in Christ Jesus, and
the love which you have toward all the saints.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">How
we than</span><span style="font-weight:normal">k</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
You Father for such saints at Colosse who merit this commendation
from the apostle Paul. </span><b><i>Your :kingdom come.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>3.
1:12-14 (1:9-17) PAUL: PRAYER FOR REVELATION OF CHRIST’S
PRE-EMINENCE. <font size="3">“Giving thanks to the Father, who
fitted you to </font><font size="3"><i>be</i></font><font size="3">
partake</font><font size="3"><i>rs </i></font><font size="3">of the
inheritance of the saints in :light; </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">13
</font><font size="3">who delivered us out of the power of :darkness,
and translated </font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">us</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
into the kingdom of the Son of his :love; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">14
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">in
who</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">m</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
we have the redemption, the forgiveness of :sins.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">You
have done so much for us in Christ already, Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
1:18-20. PAUL: REASON FOR CHRIST’S PRE-EMIN</span><span style="text-decoration:none">E</span><span style="text-decoration:none">NCE.
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">And
HE is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
firstborn from the dead; that in all HE might have pre-eminence. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">19
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">For
the whole fullness was pleased to dwell in him; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">20
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">and
through him to reconcile :all </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
unto him, having made peace through the blood of his :cross: through
him, whether the </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
upon the earth, or th</span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">os</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">e
in the heavens.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
forgive us for having such a low regard for Your Son, our Lord Jesus.
</span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our :daily
:bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
1:21-22 (1:21-23) PAUL’S MINISTRY OF RECONCIATION: HOLY,
UNBLAMABLE, UNREPROVABLE. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“And
you, being alienated before and enemies in :mind in the evil :works,
yet now has he reconciled </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">22
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">in the
body of his :flesh through :death, to present you holy and without
blemish and unreprovable before him.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Thank
You Father, for such a work in Christ on our behalf! Sin, fault and
failure on our part, You have </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">overcome</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
You see us through Christ’s atoning work and His Covenant as Holy,
unblamable and unreprovable! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
1:24-25a (1:24-29) PAULS SUFFERINGS: THE NECESSITY FOR THEM. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Now
I rejoice in </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">my</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
:sufferings for you, and fill up on my part what are lacking of the
afflictions of the Christ in my :flesh for his :body, which is the
church; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">25a
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">whereof
I became a minister.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
we too would enter into Paul’s ministry in this respect! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>7.
2:2-3 (2:1-5) PAUL: HIS EXTRAORDINARY DESIRE FOR THE COLOSSIANS.
<font size="3">“</font><font size="3">That their :hearts be comforted,
being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the fullness of
the understanding, unto full knowledge of the mystery of :God,
Christ, </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">3 </font><font size="3">in
whom are all the treasures of :wisdom and knowledge hidden.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">We
too would be receivers of this prayer, Father! We too would
acknowledge the riches in both You and Christ! </span><b><i>But
deliver us from the evil </i>one!</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
1:27 (1:24-29) PAUL: UNFOLDS THE MYSTERY IN CHRIST. </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“To
whom :God was pleased to make known what </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">is</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
the riches of the glory of this :mystery among the nations, which is
Christ in you, the hope of :glory.” </span></font></b><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Christ
in us</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
the hope of Glory! We magnify You for this purpose, plan and desire,
Father!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">C.H.
Spurgeon Quotes: “Well, Sir, you seem to be a fatalist!” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">I
hear one say, “Well, sir, you seem to be a fatalist!” No, far
from it. There is just this difference between fate and providence.
Fate is blind; providence has eyes. Fate is blind, a thing that must
be; it is just an arrow shot from a bow, that must fly onward, but
has no target. Not so, providence; providence is full of eyes. There
is a design in everything, and an end to be answered; all things are
working together, and working together for good.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the Day: 81:13-14 (81, </span><span style="text-decoration:none">ESV</span><span style="text-decoration:none">)
OH, THAT MY PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO ME. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Oh,
that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
</span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">14
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">I
would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.”
</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
foolish we are Father, to miss Your proper way of doing things! Help
us to walk in Your ways, and then we can truly </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">hallow
your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">81:1.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Sing aloud</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">.
No dullness should ever stupefy our Psalmody or halfheartedness
cause it to limp along. Sing aloud, you debtors to sovereign grace.
Your hearts are profoundly grateful; let your voices express your
thankfulness. </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Make
a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">It
is to be regretted that the niceties of modern singing frighten our
congregations from joining lustily in the hymns. For our part, we
delight in full bursts of praise and had rather discover the
ruggedness of a want of musical training than miss the heartiness of
universal congregational song. The gentility, which lisps the tune in
well-bred whispers or leaves the singing altogether to the choir, is
very like a mockery of worship. The gods of Greece and Rome may
be worshiped well enough with classical music, but Jehovah can only
be adored with the heart, and that music is best for His service
which gives the heart most play.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">81:4.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>For this was a
statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">When
it can be proved that the observance of Christmas, Whitsunday and
other Popish festivals was ever instituted by a divine statute, we
also will attend to them, but not till then. It is as much
our duty to reject the traditions of men as to observe the ordinances
of the Lord. We ask concerning every rite and rubric, “Is this a
law of the God of Jacob?” and if it be not clearly so, it is of no
authority with us who walk in Christian liberty. </span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">81:7.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>I proved you at the
waters of Meribah. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">The
story of Israel is only our own history in another shape. God has
heard us, delivered us, liberated us, and too often our unbelief
makes the wretched return of mistrust, murmuring, and rebellion.
Great is our sin; great is the mercy of our God: let us reflect upon
both and pause a while. </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Selah.
</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hurried reading
is of little benefit; to sit down a while and meditate is very
profitable.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">81:9.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>There shall no
strange god be in you.</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
No alien god is to be tolerated in Israel’s tents. </span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>Neither
shall you worship any strange god. </b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">
Where false gods are, their worship is sure to follow. Man is so
desperate an idolater that the image is always a strong tempt</span><span style="text-decoration:none">ation:
while the nests are there the birds will be eager to return. </span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none">81:12.
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>So I gave them up
unto their own hearts’ lust, and they walked in their own counsels.
</b></span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">No punishment is
more just or more severe than this. If men will not be checked, but
madly take the bit between their teeth and refuse obedience, who
shall wonder if the reins are thrown upon their necks and they are
let alone to work out their own destruction. It were better to be
given up to lions tha</span><span style="text-decoration:none">n</span><span style="text-decoration:none">
to our hearts’ lusts. Men, deserted of restraining grace,
sin with deliberation; they consult, and debate, and consider, and
then elect evil rather than good, with malice aforethought and in
cool blood. It is remarkable obduracy of rebellion when men not only
run into sin through passion but calmly “walk in their own
counsels” of iniquity. </span><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>(From
“The Treasury of David” by C.H. Spurgeon, abridged by D.O.
Fuller)</b></span></font></font></p>
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